Henjo

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Henjo (遍昭 or 遍照, 816- February 12, 890) was a Japanese waka poet and Buddhist priest. His name in birth was Yoshimine no Munesada (良岑宗貞). Thanks to a reference to him in the preface of Kokinshu he is listed as one of the Six best Waka poets.

Henjo, Munesada in birth was the eighth son of Dainagon Yoshimine no Yasuyo who was a son of Emperor Kammu and was relegated to civilian life. Henjo began his career as courtier. He was appointed to kurodo, a sort of chamberlain of Emperor Nimmyō. In 849 he was raised to the Head of Kurodo (Kurōdonotō). After Emperor Ninmyo died, Henjo became a monk because of sorrowness.

He was a priest of Tendai school. In 877 he founded Gankei-ji in Yamashina, today the southerneast part of Kyoto. In 869 he was given another temple Urin-in in Murasakino, in the north of Kyoto and managed both temples. In 885 he was ranked in Sojo and called Kazan Sojo (花山僧正).

35 his waka were consumed to the imperial anthologies of waka including Kokinshu. In the preface Ki no Tsurayuki criticized him "he knows how to construct waka, but there is less real emotion. It is alike when you saw a picture of a woman and it moved your heart".

His son Priest Sosei was also a waka poet and monk.